181: Chapter 181 The Fifth Incarnation of the Fiery Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (129)

"But the 'Four Seasons Sword Manual Supplement' costs five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Even if we robbed people for a year, we wouldn't have enough," Qiu Feng grumbled, pulling his hand away aggrievedly. "Osmanthus cakes only cost two. We only need to rob one person for that. Besides, you secretly used my pocket money to buy two boxes last time!"

"I was, I was just helping you taste-test to see if they were poisoned!" Qiu Yang's face turned even redder, and he stamped his feet in a hurry.

Chu Shi watched the two arguing incessantly, the smile at the corners of his lips growing deeper. He finally understood: these so-called "Qiu Family Dual Swords" were simply two naive fools who had never seen the world. Forget about robbing people; they had probably never even been in a proper fight. Their earlier combination of the Qiu Family Dual Swords had likely taken a long time to barely cobble together.

"Alright, stop arguing." Chu Shi spoke up again, interrupting their bickering. "With your level of skill, you still want to learn how to rob people? It's a miracle you haven't been beaten to death yet."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the longswords in their hands, his tone becoming more serious. "Also, you practiced the Qiu Family Dual Swords combination wrong."

"Wrong?" The brothers were stunned simultaneously, forgetting even to argue.

"Yes, wrong." Chu Shi nodded. "During your first formation, you used the Autumn's Harshness as the main attack, which actually had decent power. It's just that Qiu Feng was half a beat slow in retracting his sword, which allowed me to exploit the opening. But for your second formation, you insisted on switching to Summer's Flaming Sun as the main attack. Isn't that just asking for death?"

"I am a Disciple of Lieyang Peak at the Great Sun Holy Land. My entire life, I have cultivated the power of the Flaming Sun. Using the Concept of the Flaming Sun to attack me is like throwing firewood onto a bonfire; it will only make me burn brighter."

Qiu Yang's face instantly fell, and he hung his head. "I, I thought changing the formation would be unexpected and catch you off guard…"

"Being unexpected is fine, but you have to consider who your opponent is." Chu Shi shook his head. "The core of your Qiu Family Dual Swords lies in the rotation of the four seasons, where each element generates and restrains the other. Autumn governs harshness and is a sword of slaughter; Summer governs intensity and is a sword of support. You should let Qiu Feng lead the attack while you provide support from the side, using the power of the Flaming Sun to catalyze his Sword Intent of Harshness. Only then can you unleash the maximum power."

As he spoke, he casually picked up a tree branch and drew two simple footwork diagrams on the ground. "Your footwork from earlier also had issues. You should stagger your steps by half a step here. This way, you can cover each other's openings while allowing the Sword Intent to connect more fluidly."

Qiu Yang and Qiu Feng leaned in, their eyes widening as they stared at the diagrams on the ground. The more they looked, the brighter their eyes became. They had been practicing the Qiu Family Dual Swords combination for over half a year, always feeling that something was off but never able to pinpoint the problem. With Chu Shi's guidance, they were instantly enlightened, as if a door to a new world had opened before them.

"So that's how it is!" Qiu Feng slapped his thigh and said excitedly, "No wonder I always felt awkward whenever we changed formations! Brother, let's change it as soon as we get back!"

"Yeah!" Qiu Yang also nodded heavily. The hostility in his eyes toward Chu Shi was gone, replaced entirely by deep admiration. He scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Uh… thank you. Just now, just now, it was our fault. We shouldn't have blocked your path."

"It's fine." Chu Shi smiled and tossed the branch aside. "Seeing as you two are honest enough, I won't hold it against you. But don't try to rob people in the future. If you really run into a ruthless character, you two won't even have a place to cry."

"Got it, got it!" Qiu Feng nodded repeatedly. Suddenly remembering something, his eyes lit up. "Right! Brother Chu Shi, you're also going to the depths of the Temporal Secret Realm, right?"

"Yes." Chu Shi nodded.

"Then let's go together!" Qiu Feng said immediately. "Our pair of brothers is very familiar with this Temporal Secret Realm! We know where the Spiritual Plants are and where the Yao Beasts are! Plus, we can help you scout the path and carry your things!"

"Who wants to go with him!" Qiu Yang retorted immediately, but Qiu Feng tugged on his arm. Qiu Feng leaned into his ear and whispered, "Brother, if we follow him, no one will dare bully us! And he's so powerful; maybe he can find lots of Spiritual Plants. If we split a little with him then, we can buy lots of osmanthus cakes!"

Qiu Yang's eyes brightened for an instant, but then he forced a straight face and cleared his throat. "Ahem… that, seeing as you just gave us pointers on our sword technique, we'll reluctantly accompany you for a while. Lest you get lost in the Secret Realm alone and have no one to help if you encounter danger."

Watching his insincere behavior, Chu Shi couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, let's go together then. But let's set the rules first: on the road, listen to me. No running around, and no causing trouble."

"No problem!" Qiu Feng immediately raised his hand in a promise, bouncing with excitement.

Qiu Yang also nodded, silently picking up the sword from the ground and casually brushing the dust off Qiu Feng.

Chu Shi turned and walked toward the depths of the Secret Realm, and the Qiu brothers immediately followed along happily. Qiu Feng chattered away about interesting things in the Secret Realm, while Qiu Yang would occasionally scold him for "talking too much," yet he still listened attentively and added a few words now and then.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground. The three figures walked further and further away, and the air was filled only with Qiu Feng's cheerful voice and Qiu Yang's helpless complaints.

Walking in front, Chu Shi listened to the commotion behind him, and a gentle smile unconsciously curled up at the corners of his lips.

These two fools weren't too annoying after all.